The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-04-21
WHOLE NO. l494.
a Little Talk With the Moon.

1t is singular why people who are
usually kind and sensible should be-
come angry at honest differences of
opinion when under mutual discussion.
Emerson once said that he ''never al
lowed himself to enter into n controv-
ersy with anybody" But Emerson,
unlike ordinary people, could rest
serenely on this intention, having an
outlet for his ideas in his books, be-
hind which he could fire his unortho-
dox bullets, hitting an orthodox, unre-
taliating world that seldom came in
personal contact with him.
And if all persons made up their
minds never to argue, society would
come to a standStill.
In meeting with violent opposition
myself, | always wish to think of the
moon, or rather one particular CONVEX
sation it once held with me, though /
am sure to forget it when excited and
angry, which is a sorrow and mortiti-
cation afterward, since it took so much
trouble to teach me better. 1t hap
pened in this way. | never knew much
about the laws of astronomy, gravita-
ton, and attraction, but gazing idly at
an unusually luminous moon. one sum-
mer evening, it suddenly flashed a
double flood of life through my con-
sciousness, and in most sociable, con-
tidential but unexpected way said:
You see | am held here in space, in
spite of myself, by opposite forces pull
ing both ways at once"
is that the reason you don't fall
down?' l exclaimed, in delighted as
tonishment. Il have often wondered
why you didn't, especially in the arms
of your faithful lover, the sea-"
Yes" reflected the moon, 1.-The sea
possesses a mysterious attraction for
me, and vet there are higher powers
that draw me away and keep me safely
balanced between them all, where, un-
less some of them give way, which is
improbable, | am likely to remain here
for some time to come to make your
funny little world as pleasant as l pos
sibly can"
This was quite a long speech for the
moon, and after fully recovering from
lIo ChCClo IIHllAiy NtuIIitl, Il IOu9
to see your other side | know YOU
have another one, because l have seen
just the very beginning of it through a
big telescope in Washington.
True, and l have often noticed that
telescope and many others pointed at
me" she proudly laughed, mischiev-
ously adding: They don't know me
yet. ! have another side and-but as
if recalled to a sense of her dignity and
mystery she drew 1eecy veil of sill
very cloud over her brilliant, mocking
face and shut out all further revela-
tions.
But she had given me a needful les
son for which | was truly grateful.
Afterward | went to somebody who
knew, and he said it was really so;
that the moon had not told me falsely
of the sublime way in which she holds
her place in the heavens.
1t is the same with human beings.
Their different opinions are the world
great spiritual forces, pulling in ex-
treme and opposite directions to keep
it moving safely balanced, and free
from the stagnatiOn that would end it
if everybody thought alike. This is
not saying that people can not change
their opinions. As that is constantly
happening in as many different direc-
tions, it keeps the balance even in the
spiral circles of progressive thought
evolution. And as the moon repeats
every time she sheds her light upon
this partly enlightened little planet,
''What is the use of getting angry at
the wise and natural law that keeps us
where we all belong. " -Hnrtt0rd Times